As a carrier by profession there is an array of industry standards that you should be well aware of in order to carry out your duties efficiently. Amidst the list of other proficiencies, you need to develop on the job, something as basic as understanding the intricacies of cargo types and how these can impact the safe delivery of items to their assigned destinations often goes overlooked.
Here
we’ll take a look into some of the cargo you can expect to handle and what is
often required to get them from point A to Point B in the desired state.
Within the African region, you can expect to
see the prevalence of such cargo loads as diamonds, oil, timber and cocoa as
options for you to transport.
Diamonds:
As a highly valuable and luxurious item, diamonds must be transported in a tamperproof container when being taken from one country to the other. To receive sufficient clearance, it must be accompanied with a government issued Kimberly Process certificate. In a bid to prevent the transportation of illegal conflict diamonds this was implemented as a measure to dissuade potential peddlers. As a direct consequence, when diamonds are being carried there, there are a plethora of regulations and laws to abide by. This “Kimberly Process” is a coalition of over 70 countries that was formed to combat the rampant distribution of conflict diamonds throughout the region.
Oil:
Tank trucks move processed oil, or
fuel, in cylinder-shaped containers. These containers look a lot like the tank
cars pulled by trains. Each of these trucks can carry between 10,000 and 45,000
litres of fuel from refineries or storage facilities to the pumps at a gas
station.
In order to maintain the varying fuel grades, each
fuel type is separated for transport, being stored in different compartments.
This allows for trucks to carry multiple kinds of fuel to a service station in
one trip.
Tank trucks can carry other types of processed oil, too. They can carry jet fuel to airports. propane, furnace oil, and other residential fuels to homes that to utilise them in essential heating or cooking practises. Like other forms of oil transport, a drawback to tanker trucks is the possibility of spills during loading or unloading, or even in traffic accidents. Driving a tank truck is trickier than most truck loads. This can be attributed to the high centre of gravity established by the top of the truck in relation to the driver’s seat. With all that liquid sloshing around in that hoisted cylindrical body, tank trucks have a higher likelihood of tipping over as a result. As such the necessary precautions should be taken to avoid such a catastrophe on the roadways as an oil carrier.
Timber:
The final
step in tree harvesting is the transportation of the trees or logs to the mill
and/or a forwarding location such as the shipping yard for further
transportation. Few instances exist where the lumber harvested isn’t first
moved off-site by trucks assigned to clearing them out.
Depending on the distance travelled, trucking can be a very expensive component of the overall harvest. It is therefore very important to optimize the payload, and in most cases this means maximizing the payload. From the public’s perspective, the transportation of logs is also the most visible part of a logging operation. The transportation is also affected by a host of regulations.
From the
perspective of the average onlooker, moving logs of large sizes becomes the
most apparent portion of any logging operation. However, one should consider
the overall cost that accompanies the transport of the payload to be loaded
unto the trucks enlisted for service. This can quickly become an expensive
component of the harvest, due to expenses that rise as the distance travelled
rises. As such, it is essential for the payload to be optimized and the various
regulations considered for safety in operations are observed to ensure safe
delivery of the cargo you’ve been charged with carrying.
Considering
these factors understanding that each truck comes with its own specifications
and respective pros and cons is also very important when establishing what type
of truck configuration is the best candidate for the job at hand. The first
consideration is what form the product is. This can be tree-length, logs, or
short-wood - defined as logs short enough to be stacked across the deck of the
truck - or it may be in some processed form such as wood chips. Be sure that
when selecting a truck that the machinery utilised to load and unload them are
the most appropriate picks to avoid any complications.
Semi-trailers have wheels at the rear of the trailer and are supported at the front by the tractor, attached to the tractor by a kingpin. When not attached to the tractor, the front of the trailer must be supported, usually by downriggers or landing gear. Semi-trailers can have single, tandem, and tri-axle configurations.
Cocoa:
One would be surprised to learn that
while a significant portion of the world’s chocolate is consumed in Western nations,
cocoa production largely takes place in South America and Africa. In fact, over
64% of the world’s cocoa supply that is directly responsible for this
delectable commodity originates in Four West African countries—the Ivory Coast,
Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Of these four countries, the two major
contributors are the Ivory Coast and Ghana which account for 50% of all of the
world’s cocoa.
According to: https://epgna.com/: “Cocoa is very sensitive to changes in temperature and moisture, which means you must store it in a cool, dry environment for the duration of the journey. Using insulated shipping containers and multi-layered storage bags can help the cocoa stay in good condition. However, keep in mind that you don’t want the temperature to be too cold, either—freezing temperatures can also spoil raw cocoa.
When exposed to moisture, cocoa can
spoil, rot, or develop mold. Additionally, as cocoa absorbs more moisture, the
free fatty acid (FFA) levels of the raw cocoa generally rise. An FFA level
that’s too high can affect the taste and overall quality of the cocoa.
Rot, mold, and FFA levels can all contribute
to a drop in quality of the cocoa or even volume loss, which means less
profit. An airtight bag or container can keep your shipment of cocoa
beans or cocoa powder dry and fresh while in transit. In addition to keeping
your cocoa fresh, this kind of container can also prevent spillage and keep
insects, rodents, and other vermin from damaging your shipment.”
Being proactive about the measures taken to ensure the safe transport of
any goods tendered by your prospective supplier is of paramount importance.
Therefore, it is crucial to carefully consider all criteria outlined for a
successful delivery.
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